Flat butt tapered leader

ABSTRACT

A fly-line leader having a progressively reducing mass from butt-to-tip, with the tippet segment having a generally circular cross section, and with the butt segment having a generally elliptical cross section, and with a transition segment of increased rate of taper extending therebetween, with the transition segment having a generally circular cross section. The minor axis of the butt segment is preferably substantially constant.

United States Patent [191 Swisher FLAT BUTT TAPERED LEADER [75] Inventor: Rolla Douglas Swisher, Spirit Lake,

Iowa

[73] Assignee: Berkley & Company, Inc., Spirit Lake. Iowa [22] Filed: July 13, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 378,919

[52] US. Cl. 43/4438 [51] Int. Cl A0lk 91/00 [58] Field of Search 43/4498 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,747,320 5/1956 Boland 43/4498 [451 Feb. 11, 1975 3,758,979 9/1973 Martuch et al. 43/4498 Primary Examiner-Warner H. Camp [57] ABSTRACT A fly-line leader having a progressively reducing mass from butt-to-tip, with the tippet segment having a generally circular cross section, and with the butt segment having a generally elliptical cross section, and with a transition segment of increased rate of taper extending therebetween, with the transition segment having a generally circular cross section. The minor axis of the butt segment is preferably substantially constant.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Kai- PATENIED FEB? I I975 F-IG.4

FIG.1

FLAT BUTT TAPERED LEADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an improved leader for fly casting, and more specifically to such a leader which has a progressively reduced mass from butt-to-tip. The cross section of the butt segment is preferably elliptical, or rectangular in configuration, and with the minor axis or dimension remaining constant. The tippet segment and the fast taper segment which is interposed between the butt and tippet segments are each generally round in cross section.

In the past, tapered filaments have been utilized for the preparation of fly casting line leaders. Tapering has been achieved by virtue of etching a length of synthetic linear polymers such as, for example, nylon, so as to achieve a certain desired taper throughout the length of the leader. While such leaders accomplished certain advantages, such as, for example, providing a line-toline leader knot with a greater area of contact, other advantages available from other configurations were not achieved.

Also, in the part, it has been proposed to utilize a fly casting line leader with a generally oval or rectangular cross section. These structures have been proposed in order to achieve a greater degree of flexibility in the leader. It has been found, however, that the structure of the present invention achieves all of the advantages of each structure without sacrificing any of the other conventional requirements for a fly casting line leader.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, a flat butt tapered leader is provided having a butt segment with a generally elliptical cross section, along with a fast taper and tip segments, each having a generally circular cross section. The apparent stiffness of a filament is a function of the fourth power of its diameter, thus it can be appreciated that a significant gain in flexibility can be obtained by controlling the cross sectional configuration. In order to achieve greater control of this limpness, therefore, the structure of the present invention limits this reduction by providing circular cross sectional configurations for the fast taper and tippet segments.

Turning now to the advantages which are available from the structure of the present invention, the flexibility of the butt segment is significant in permitting a smaller casting loop to be employed. Furthermore, the limpness of the leader at the butt segment is more closely matched to that of the line, this being due to the configuration of this segment of the structure.

The transfer of energy is enhanced by the structure of the present invention. In this connection, the transfer of energy from the line to the leader, and thereafter on to the fly is smoother and more efficient. Therefore, more energy may be utilized in directing the casting loop to the target. Certain of these advantages are achieved in view of the fact that the reduction in stiffness, or conversely the increase in limpness is reduced in the area of the fast taper and tip, where this feature is advantageously preserved.

The flat-butt portion of the leader provides other advantages as well. There is a reduced tendency for twisting to occur in the leader as it is being wound on the reel. Furthermore, the casting loop formed by the leader remains in a plane which is generally flatter than it would otherwise be with a circular cross section.

Also, the elliptical configuration provides a greater area for achieving contact with the water surface, thus providing for better flotation. The resistance generated by the air is also reduced with the controlled cross section, and there is a reduction in the tendency in the butt section to become kinked when the leader is being bent around the tip portion of the rod. Also, this configuration has been found to permit a novice to achieve a more flat or straight leader portion.

In addition to the above advantages, the knotting is thought to be improved in that it is more smooth, neater and smaller diameter line-to-leader knot may be utilized, with this knot having a greater area of contact and accordingly resulting in greater holding power. Each of these advantages is further available without increasing the difficulty in line coating, should coating or dressing be desired.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved fly line leader which has a progressively reduced mass from butt-to-tip which includes a tippet segment of generally circular cross section along with a butt segment of generally elliptical cross section, the fast taper transition segment extending between the butt and tippet segments also having a generally circular cross section.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fly line leader which possesses the advantages of an oval or elliptical cross section butt segment, and with the corresponding advantages of a generally circular taper and tippet segment.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fly line leader having an improved transfer of energy from line-to-leader, and onto the fly, with this improved transfer of energy being obtained by virtue of the geometry of the structure.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fly line leader with enhanced knotting characteristics, with these knotting characteristics being obtained without sacrificing other qualities of the line.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fly line leader having a limpness available in the leader portion which more closely matches that of conventional fly fishing lines.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fly line leader prepared in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diametrical cross-sectional views taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2, 3-3, and 44, respectively of FlG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferred modification of the present invention, and with particular attention being directed to the drawing, the fly line leader generally designated 10 includes a tippet segment 11, a rapid tape? segment 12 along with a tapered butt segment 13. These individual segments are, of course, integrally coupled, one to another, along the line length. Because of the tapered configuration, the leader has a progressively reduced mass from butt-to-tip.

Fly line fishing leaders are typically prepared from nylon monofilament line. Nylons such as nylon 6 (ecaprolactam), nylon 6/1 1 or the like may be employed. Such materials are, of course, readily commercially available and are widely utilized in the art.

Fly fishing leaders normally have a length of from 6 to 12 feet, with those of9 feet to 10 feet in length being most widely employed. It has been found that the butt segment should comprise between about 60 percent and 70 percent of the leader length, with the individual taper and tippet segments comprising between percent and percent each.

For most applications, the major axis of the butt segment is preferably from between 0.20 inch and 0.28 inch, with the minor axis of this segment preferably being from between about 0.013 inch and 0.016 inch. The fast taper portion or segment is tapered to a diameter of between about 0.007 inch and 0.012 inch, and thereafter, the tippet segment continues its taper down to the final tip size which is generally in the area of approximately 0.004 inch to about 0.010 inch.

The beam stiffness of the leader material is generally in the area of approximately 480,000 psi, with the ap parent modulus matching that of the fly line. This feature enhances the performance of the leader when coupled to a conventional fly line.

ln the preparation of the tapered fly line leaders of the present invention, it is preferred that a tapered length of monofilament by employed which has the progressively reduced mass available from butt-to-tip. Thereafter, the material is passed between a pair of mating rolls with a gap being pre-set at approximately 0.008 inch to about 0.012 inch to compensate for spring-back. The tapered section is then pulled through the rolls and a product is obtained with a generally circular cross section for the tippet and fast taper segment, with the butt segment being formed with a generally elliptical cross section having a substantially constant minor axis dimension. This consistency in the minor axis dimension has been found to enhance the performance of the fly line leader.

It will be appreciated that a variety of materials and a variety of techniques may be employed in order to fabricate these structures, with these various techniques normally being known in the art.

I claim:

1. A fly line leader having a progressive taper along with a' progressively reduced mass from butt-to-tip and including a tapered tippet segment of generally circular cross section, a tapered butt segmentof generally elliptical cross section and having a substantially constant minor axis dimension, and a tapered transition segment of generally circular cross section extending between said tippet and butt segments and having a rate of taper greater than that of said tippet and butt segments.

2. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said butt segment comprises between about 60 percent and percent of the leader length.

3. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said transition and tippet segments each comprise from between about 15 percent and 20 percent of the leader length; with the balance being the butt segment.

4. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said transition segment has a rate of taper of between about 0.0015 inch per lineal foot up to about 0.010 inch per lineal foot of leader length.

5. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that the minor axis of said butt segment is substantially constant from one end thereof to the other.

6. The fly line leader as defined in claim 5 being particularly characterized in that said butt segment comprises between about 60 percent and 70 percent'of the pounds per square inch. 

1. A fly line leader having a progressive taper along with a progressively reduced mass from butt-to-tip and including a tapered tippet segment of generally circular cross section, a tapered butt segment of generally elliptical cross section and having a substantially constant minor axis dimension, and a tapered transition segment of generally circular cross section extending between said tippet and butt segments and having a rate of taper greater than that of said tippet and butt segments.
 2. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said butt segment comprises between about 60 percent and 70 percent of the leader length.
 3. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said transition and tippet segments each comprise from between about 15 percent and 20 percent of the leader length; with the balance being the butt segment.
 4. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said transition segment has a rate of taper of between about 0.0015 inch per lineal foot up to about 0.010 inch per lineal foot of leader length.
 5. The fly line leader as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that the minor axis of said butt segment is substantially constant from one end thereof to the other.
 6. The fly line leader as defined in claim 5 being particularly chaRacterized in that said butt segment comprises between about 60 percent and 70 percent of the leader length, and with the transition and tippet segments each comprising from between about 15 percent and 20 percent of the leader length.
 7. The fly line leader as defined in claim 6 being particularly characterized in that said transition segment has a rate of taper of between about 0.015 inch per lineal foot up to about 0.010 inch per lineal foot of leader length, and has a beam stiffness of about 480,000 pounds per square inch. 